Door structure



N v. 13, 1934. F. J. MATCHETTE DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 13, 1934. F. J. MATCHETTE DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2; 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 52 mn Em m:

3 Sheets-Sheet m BITE. :flij 4 I .n 9 1 9 1k WW7; m w l. 7 7m 4 W n u l Nov. 13, 1934. F. J. MATCHETTE noon STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2. 1930 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 DOOR STRUCTURE Frank J. Matchette, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Servidor Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 2,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to service doors.

Broadly stated, the chief object of this invention is to provide a simple and practical means for furnishing additional storage space in private dwellings and the like.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the fulfilling of a long-felt demand for a more suitable manner of storing certain articles that are in daily use, and in a place convenient to where they are used, so that they may be quickly available whenever needed. For example, great inconvenience has been heretofore attendant upon the storing of certain bathroom necessities, such as hot water bags, ice bags, rubber toilet accessories, towels, soaps, and. large containers of bath salts and other toilet requisites, because of the lack of space in the modern bathroom. As the wall space in the bathroom is usually taken up by the plumbing; bathtub, shower and lavatory, the

medicine cabinet installed above the washbowl is, of necessity, of restricted size. Because of the fact that the above named articles are too large to fit in the usual medicine cabinet, and as a larger medicine cabinet is impractical and additional closet or storage space cannot be had because of the lack of free wall space, it has been necessary to store these articles in different parts of the home. This is objectionable in that it is inconvenient and necessitates repeated trips back and forth to secure these desired articles, with a consequent loss of time.

According to my invention, I, therefore,.propose to provide an enclosure member which may be hinged to any conventional entrance door, to create a storage compartment extending the entire height and width of the center panel of the door, which also acts as a closure for the compartment. For example, the enclosure means may be hinged to the inside of the bathroom entrance door for the reception of any of the aforementioned articles, where they will be available quickly whenever needed.

As will appear from the following detailed description, I propose to install this enclosure member upon any conventional entrance door, without requiring any change in the door design or construction. It will present a neat and pleasing appearance and'will not be visible from any adjoining room or corridor. It is to be here understood that I do not, however, intend to limit myself to the use of my device upon a bathroom door alone, as I also contemplate using it upon any conventional closet or kitchen door. It will, of course, also be evident that it may be installed upon any convenient and accessible portion of a wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my inven- 1930, Serial No. 485,873

tion applied to a standard entrance door and showing an arrangement of shelves suitable for bathroom usage;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a door, with the device of my invention shown in closed position;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view of a panel showing an arrangement of shelves and hooks suitable for storing articles used in a kitchen;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, of the latch portion of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the hinge portion of the embodiment of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 of another embodiment of my invention, applied to a door having a five-ply panel;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the five-ply panel shown in Figure 7, but with a plate mirror applied thereto;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of another arrangement of the interior of the device of my invention;

Figure 10 is a view taken along the line 1010 of Figure 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of one of the shelves and associated parts for holding the articles to be stored.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings: v

The device of my invention, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings, includes a main door 1 of known construction, having the usual hinge and lock stiles 2 and 3, respectively, top and bottom rails 4 and 5, respectively, forming the frame thereof, and a center panel 6., The door is further provided with the usual door knob 7 for controlling the opening and closing thereof.

The closure member, designated generally by the reference character 8, comprises a main panel 9 of sheet steel of suitable gauge and temper, which is hinged to the stile 2 of door 1 in a manner hereinafter more fully described, and is transversely bulged or arched, as shown in Figure 3. Closure members of other shapes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention, but I prefer to employ a closure member that will have a maximum depth substantially at the center thereof and tapers towards the sides, inasmuch as such a construction will permit maximum swinging of the main This is of great importance, inasmuch as the space in a bathroom or closet is usually limited.

By referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the panel 9 is of such height and width that it willoverlap the stiles 2, 3 and rails 4, 5 of the main door and which, together with the center panel 6 of door 1, will act to close the compartment 11 I formed by the bulged configuration of panel 9.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that, the vertical edge of he lock side of panel 9 is bent inwardly uponitaelf at 12 and is then bent reversely to form a channel member 13. This channel member 13 receives and clamps the intion 15 in a suitable manner, as by spot welding.

This strap is shaped at its outer end to form a sleeve 17 fer the reception of a hinge pintle 18-.

The pintle 18- is formed integrally with a block- 19, the upper portion of which is turned down in any suitable manner to form the pintle. The block 19 is secured to a hinge strip 20 in any suitable manner, as by spot welding, and the hinge strip in turn is secured to the hinge stile 2 of the door in a suitable manner,.as by means of screws 21. The hinge strip 20 comprises an angle strip formed from sheet steel of any suitable gauge and of suitable length and width. It will be noted in Figure 1 that the hinge strip 20 extends substantially the entire height of the panel 9. It may be here pointed out that the hinge strip 20 is an important part of my invention, in that it makes for easy installation by eliminating all fitting upon themain door 1, and assures a minimum amount of damage .to the door 1 by screws or the like.

A suitable strike plate 22, comprising a metal plate bent at an obtuse angle and having an opening 23 therein, is mounted upon the lock stile 3 of door 1 by any suitable means. An escutcheon plate 24, upon which is pivoted a catch 25, is secured to thepanel 9 by any suitable means, with the catch 25 extending through an opening 26 in the panel 9. This catch comprises two arms 27 and 28, disposed substantially at right angles to each other, the arm 27 acting as a handle-and the arm 28 having a hook portion 29 formed on the inner end thereof for engaging in the opening 23 in strike plate 22 to hold the closure member 8 closed. The top and bottom of the curved panel 9 are closed by means of sheet metal members 31 suitably secured thereto, as by means of spot welding. A door stop 32, secured to the bottom member 31 as by riveting it thereto, and to the main door 1 by any suitable means, such as by screws, limits the extent to which the closure member 8 may be opened. A two-pronged taste of the a construction provides a space 37 between the panels 9 and 34 in which any suitable sound absorbing or fire protecting composition 38 may be lplaced. This prevents any objectionable metallic noise when the closure member. 8 is closed.

The panel 34 is provided, along its length, with a plurality of keyhole slots 39, so that shelves,

hooks, and other devices maybe mounted upon said panel to suit any particular need, or the individual user. As is well understood in the art, small projections on the back of the aforementioned devices are adapted to fit into and through said-slots'39 for holding the devices in place.

In Figure 1, I have shown an arrangement of shelves and hooks which is well suited to bathroom uses. As shown in said figure, shelves 40, s 41 and. 42 are disposed on; the upper portion of panel 34. Each of these, shelves has a protecting flange 43 and a guard rail 44, and is adapted for the reception of bottles and'packages that are too large to fit in the ordinary medicine cabinet. Preferably, the shelves are of sheet metal and o! rectangular cross-section, with an upper horizontal element and a vertical flange depending from the back or outer edge of the upper element, which upper element constituteathe shelf proper. The shelf 42 has a plurality of hooks 45 secured to the flange 46 thereof, in a suitable manner, as

by riveting or welding. A- metal strip 47 is 105.

mounted upon the panel-34, by means ofthe 'keyhole slots 39 and suitable elements cooperating therewith. This strip 47 has a plurality of In Figure 4 I have shown another method of arranging the interior of the closure member 8,. which is particularly adapted for use in a kitchen. In theupper portion-of the panel designated as 34a there is provided a plurality of keyhole slots 39a by means of which a shelf may be mounted in any desired position. A second and stationary shelf 50 is disposed below the slots 39a and has secured thereto a plurality of hooks 51. Spring clips 52 are secured to the panel at aboutthe central portion thereof, for the reception of the handles of brooms, mops, and other articles hav- I ing relatively long handles; A row-ofhooks 53, convenientlyformed of wire of 'suitable'gauge, is disposed belowthe clips '52 for reception of articles, suchas small brushes provided with eyelets.

-,Fig ures 9 and 10 show still anotherarrangementof the interior of .the closuremember 8. In this case a special key locked compartment 53 is installed in the upper portion of the closure member 8 and a shelf 54 disposed thereunder. This special key-locked compartment is advantageous in a bathroom type of closure member, in that poisons, or articles ofv a personal nature may be stored therein. It is to be here understood that I do not propose to limit myself to the specific arrangements of the interior of the closure member, which are shown here by way of example, as I am well aware that numerous arrangements of the interior of said closure member may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modification in the construction of the closure member.

form to the curvature of the outer panel 9 and is t Figure 5 shows the lock side of the structure suitably secured. thereto by pot welding. Such while Figure 6 shows the hinge side thereof. The

construction of the main door 1a is the same as that shown in Figure 1. The closure member 8a is similar to that shown in Figure 1, in that it has the outer panel 9a and inner panel 341) forming a space 37a therebetween for the reception of a sound absorber 38a. In the present illustration, however, it is to be noted that the closure member 8a has a greater depth than the one shown in Figure l.

The hinge structure comprises a flat metal strip 55, which is secured to the hinge stile 2 of the main door structure in any suitable manner, and to which is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, blocks 56 upon the upper portion of which are formed pintles 57. The lateral edge of the panel 9a is bent back upon itself in such a manner that the edge formed thereby contacts with the hinge strip 55 and with a sleeve 58 formed on the end of a hinge strap 59 which hinge strap passes through an opening 60. in said panel and is suitably secured thereto, as by welding.

The lock side of the member 8a, shown in Figure 5, has the same characteristics as those shown in Figure 6, and is similar to Figure 1, in so far as the manner in which the strip 13a is held, and in the construction of the catch 25a. The lock strike, or keeper, diifers, however, in that it comprises a flat portion ,61, suitably secured to the lock stile 3 of the main door, the said portion 61 being bent at one end at right angles to itself, and then bent again to form a U-shaped portion 62, the edge of which is adapted to engage the hooked portion 29a of catch 25a, to hold the closure member 8a in closed position.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 I have provided a novel construction by which my invention may be applied to a cabinet type door. The center panel 63, in this case, is a five-ply panel disposed in co-planar relation to the hinge and lock stiles 64 and 65, respectively. The panel 63 is held in place and prevented from moving outwardly by means of a heading 66, disposed on the outer side of the door, and is prevented from moving inwardly by means of a molding 67 'of rectangular cross-section, secured to the stiles and rails of the door. The panel 68 has each vertical edge bent back upon itself at 69 and 70, respectively, and is hinged to the door by means of hinge straps 71, suitably secured to the bent back portion 70, as by welding. The hinge strap 71 is bent at right angles and is then bent again to form a sleeve 72, which engages around a pintle 73, the end of said strap being then secured to the bead 6'7 by any suitable means.

In Figure 8 I have shown a modified form of cabinet doonembodying a plate mirror and to which my device may also be quickly and easily attached. In this instance, as in the case of the construction shown in Figure 7, the door includes a center panel 63a, of five-ply construction, and a molding 67a of rectangular crosssection, which serves to hold said panel in coplanar relation to the stiles and rails of the door and to prevent it from moving inwardly therefrom. A plate glass mirror '74, having a strip of felt, or other suitable material 75 interposed between it and the outer face of said panel, is held in place by means of a beading 76, which is suitably secured to the stiles and rails of said door, and which also prevents the panel 630 and mirror from moving outwardly. The enclosure member may be secured to the door of Figure 8 in the same manner as in Figure '1.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described.

What I claim is:-

1. In combination, a door comprising stiles and rails defining a frame, a panel supported by the stiles and rails and closing the space therebetween, said panel being remote from one face of the frame and defining therewith a recess of appreciable depth, a closure member disposed at the face of the frame remote from the panel and being of sufiiciently greater extent than the panel to contact at its edges the frame when the closure member is in closed position, said closure member being of considerable depth and defining with said recess and when in closed position a compartment of greater depth than the closure member, and means hingedly securing said closure member to said door, said means being attached to said closure member at a point inwardly of the marginal edges thereof.

2. In combination a door comprising stiles and rails defining a frame, a panel supported by the stiles and rails and closing the space therebetween, said panel being remote from one face of the frame and defining therewith a recess of appreciable depth, a closure member disposed at the face of the frame remote from the panel and being of proper size to extend over the panel and contact the frame when in closed position, said closure member being of considerable depth and defining with said recess and when in closed po-v sition a compartment of greater depth than the closure member, and means hingedly mounting said closure member on said door, said means being disposed between the inner marginal edge of one of the stiles and one of the marginal edges of said closure member.

3. In combination, a door comprising stiles and rails defining a frame, a relatively thin panel supported by the stiles and rails and closing the space therebetween, said panel being at one face of the frame and remote from the other face thereof and defining with the frame a recess of appreciable depth, a closure member disposed at the face of the frame remote from the'panel and being of proper size to extend over the panel and contact the frame when in closed position, said closure member being of considerable depth and defining with said recess and when in closed position a compartment of greater depth than the closure member, and means hingedly mounting said closure member on said door, said means being connected to one of said stiles at a point remote from the outer edge thereof and attached to said closure member at a point disposed within the marginal edges thereof.

4. In combination, a door comprising stiles and rails defining a frame, a relatively thin panel supported by the stiles and rails and closing the space therebetween, said panel being at one face of the frame and remote from the'other face thereof and defining with the frame a recess of appreciable depth, a closure member disposed on the frame at said other face thereof and cooperating with the recess to form a compartment of considerable depth when the closure member is in closed position, and means hingedly mounting said closure member on said door, said means being connected to one of saidstiles at a point remote from the outer edge thereof and to said closure member adjacent to and inwardly of one of the marginal edges thereof. 

